Early childhood education plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for a child’s overall development. Attending a day nursery not only provides a safe and stimulating environment but also offers numerous benefits for children’s social, emotional, and physical growth. By choosing to enrol their children in a nursery parents can:
- feel secure in knowing any planned closure days long in advance,
- trust that the environment they are sending their child into is safe and catered to their specific needs,
- have confidence in the qualified staff that will be looking after the most important thing in their world.
In a Nursery setting children are placed into rooms depending on their age and stage. This is hugely beneficial for the children’s social, emotional and physical development. Each room is set up with specific toys and equipment to cater best for the age and stage of the children that are using it. It is important to have the correct equipment for the children as having equipment that is either too advanced or not advanced enough for them will have no benefit to your child’s development. Nurseries provide a rich social environment that fosters interaction and collaboration among children. Interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds encourages children to develop essential social skills such as communication, cooperation, and empathy. Through group activities and shared experiences, children learn the art of sharing, taking turns, and working together as a team. These social interactions form the foundation for building lasting friendships and navigating social dynamics throughout their lives. Nurseries are designed to stimulate children's cognitive development through various age-appropriate activities and educational programs.
At Inkpots we release our closure days at the start of the year to ensure parents have plenty of time to arrange alternative childcare. By having these set closure days we are able to carry out any major maintenance work such as painting when there are no children in the nursery which keeps them away from any mess or harmful fumes and lets them come back after the holidays to a fresh and welcoming environment. With twenty-five plus staff on our books, we have ample cover for staff sickness or holiday cover. This means that parents do not have to worry about getting last minute childcare because their child’s carer is sick as we can cover our staff at short notice very easily. This gives parents the peace of mind and security in knowing that we have plenty of staff to provide quality care for their children.
Nurseries are heavily regulated by several different bodies and have to meet a strict set of minimum standards in order to stay open. Prior to opening or when putting on an extension Building Control comes out to ensure that building work complies with minimum standards for Health and Safety of persons around the building, conservation of fuel and power, and accessibility. Social services do an annual inspection to ensure that the nursery adheres to the Department of Health’s Minimum standards, which include strict guidelines on the ratio of staff to children, never letting there be less than two adults in a room with children, the number of children in each room, the staff qualifications, and the suitability of the child’s environment. On top of this nurseries have annual inspections from the Local Authorities to check if they are complying with food hygiene law and produce food safely. In Inkpots, many of our staff are food hygiene certified and our chef is fully qualified and works with a qualified paediatrician to ensure healthy eating policies and portions are all correct.
It is a requirement, only in nurseries, for all staff to be fully qualified to NVQ Level 2 or above or be working towards this qualification. All staff must hold up to date child protection and safeguarding training, which has to be renewed every three years. Staff are also required to undergo a police vetting check and a social service vetting check. In addition, nurseries are required to have a Designated Safeguarding officer, who undergoes more in-depth child protection training every three years, and a Fit Person, who has to be interviewed and signed off by Social Services, on site at all times. Further to their childcare qualification, nursery staff are encouraged to under continuous professional development courses such as, manual handling, fire safety, Adverse Childhood Experience training, Introduction to Autism Spectrum Conditions, Nutrition Matters for the Early Years, Makaton Language Programme, Learning Disability – Positive Support in the Early Years, and Trauma Sensitive Practice, to name but a few.
As parents, it is essential to recognise the significant impact that nursery education can have on our children's lives. By embracing the Minimum Standards, nurseries create an environment where children can thrive, flourish, and unlock their full potential. Investing in quality nursery education is a step towards empowering our children to become confident and well-rounded individuals who are ready to face the challenges and opportunities that life has to offer. In addition, you can feel at ease knowing your child is in a safe nurturing environment being looked after by quality, qualified staff who will do the best they can for your children.